Children's artwork is precious. It records memories and milestones. It also arrives in a constant stream of paintings, drawings and models, which soon overwhelms the storage and the walls. Parents are left wondering what to keep and how to show it, and framing everything properly would cost a fortune.
The aim is a display that celebrates what the children have made and still looks good in your home. The answer is a mix of flexible, inexpensive display for most things and proper preservation for the few that matter most.
Quick tip for parents: Frame children's artwork in ways that are affordable and easy to change, such as frames that open from the front, magnetic boards or a gallery you rotate. Keep acid-free materials and proper frames for the special pieces.
What you are dealing with
Types and sizes
Most school artwork is on A4 paper, which fits standard frames. But children also work on everything from small sketch pads to large sheets of sugar paper, which need other solutions.
Three-dimensional work, such as clay models, cardboard constructions and collages, cannot go in an ordinary frame. It needs a box frame or a shelf.
The materials vary too: watercolour, finger paint, crayon, felt-tip and glued-on bits and pieces. Felt-tip and cheap paints fade fast in light, and thick paint and glue can flake.
Ages
- Ages 2 to 5. Bold colours, simple shapes and happy experiments. These suit playful treatment and colourful frames.
- Ages 6 to 12. Growing skill and more complicated subjects. A slightly smarter frame recognises the progress.
- Teenagers. Their work may deserve the same framing as an adult's, with good materials and a proper mount.
Framing that does not cost much
Inexpensive options
- Easy-change frames. Frames that open from the front, or simple clip-in frames, let you swap a picture in seconds.
- Cheap frames improved. A plain wooden frame from a discount shop can be painted in the child's favourite colour, or decorated with stickers.
- No frames at all. Picture shelves, cork boards and magnetic boards take any size of artwork and can be rearranged at will.
Buying and reusing
- Buy several the same. A set of matching frames in two or three standard sizes costs less per frame and looks consistent.
- Improvise mounts. Coloured paper or fabric makes an attractive border round a small drawing for very little.
- Rotate. Choose your frame sizes and keep changing the pictures inside them. The display stays fresh, and you buy the frames only once.
Preserving the special ones
Materials that protect
- Acid-free mounts and backing. They stop paper yellowing and becoming brittle. Use them for the pieces you want to keep for good, and ordinary materials for temporary displays.
- UV-protective glazing. It prevents fading, which matters especially for felt-tip, coloured pencil and watercolour.
- A firm backing board. It keeps the paper flat and uncreased.
Storing the rest
- A portfolio. Keep unframed work flat in a folder, with acid-free tissue between sheets so that paint does not stick. Write the child's name and the date on the back of each piece in pencil.
- Digital copies. Scan or photograph everything worth remembering. The record survives even if the original does not, and it is easy to share with grandparents.
- Somewhere dry. Store paper in a dry place with a steady temperature. Lofts and garages are bad for it.
Display ideas
A gallery that changes
- Rotation. Change the display monthly, or each school term, so that every piece has its turn.
- A gallery wall. Frames in one colour but several sizes look smart and take artwork of different dimensions.
- Themes. Group pictures by colour or subject for a display with a point to it.
Displays the children can manage
- Magnetic boards. Children can arrange their own pictures, which gives them pride in their work.
- Pinboards. A board with a decorative border is a flexible space that they can change themselves.
- String and pegs. A line of string with small pegs looks like an artist's studio and suits a playroom or family room.
Room by room
Children's bedrooms
A gallery of their own lets children see their work every day. Use frames in their favourite colours and let them help choose what goes up. A row of pictures from different ages shows how far they have come, and builds confidence.
In a child's room, hang frames out of reach and never above the bed, fix them securely, and choose acrylic glazing in place of glass.
Living rooms
Children's art can hold its own in the main rooms if it is framed with care. Neutral frames suit the room and let the colours of the artwork provide the interest. A small drawing in a wide mount and a larger frame has far more presence, and so does a group of small pieces hung together.
Kitchens
The kitchen is where the newest pictures land, so use a system that is easy to change, such as a magnetic board or a string and pegs. Keep artwork away from the hob and the sink, because steam and grease will spoil it.
Involving the children
- Choosing. Let them help decide which pictures to frame, and talk about what makes a piece special. It teaches them to make decisions and to trust their own judgement.
- Decorating. Painting or decorating a frame is a project in itself.
- Looking after it. Helping to hang, arrange and change the display teaches them to value what they have made.
A child whose picture has been properly framed and hung where everyone can see it knows that the work matters. That encourages them to go on making things.
When to pay for proper framing
- Presents. A framed picture for grandparents will be treasured.
- Milestones. The first recognisable drawing of the family, a prize-winner, or a piece with a story behind it.
- Exceptional work. Something that is simply very good.
For these, a made-to-measure frame with an acid-free mount and UV-protective glazing will keep the picture as it is for the next generation. A framer can advise on the best way to hold delicate or bulky work.
Using technology
A digital photo frame can show scans of dozens of pictures in turn, while the originals stay safely stored away from light. Photographing artwork as it comes home also gives you a dated record of how your child's skills developed.
Thinking long term
- Organise. File work by child and by year, so that you can find things later.
- Select. Keep the most significant originals, and digital copies of the rest. You cannot keep everything, and you do not need to.
Conclusion
Framing children's artwork is a balance between celebrating creativity and living in the real world. Use inexpensive, changeable displays for most of it, proper materials for the pieces that matter, and involve the children in choosing and hanging. The result is a home that shows how much their work is valued.
EasyFrame offers a wide range of made-to-measure frames, and with long experience we can advise on the right frame for a special piece. Call us on 01234 856 501 or email sales@easyframe.co.uk. We are always happy to talk, whether or not you want to buy.